Display device



Dec. 9, 1930. 1 A. w. JOHNSON 1,784,597

DISPLAY DEVI CE Filed Dec. 1. 1927 3 Sheets-Sheet 1 BY M/WZ A TTORNEYJ j f "IINVENTOR.

Dec. 9, 1930. A. w. JOHNSON 1,784,597

DISPLAY DEVICE Filed Dec. 1. 1927' 5 Sheets-Sheet 2 J INVENTOR.

BY 77 NW A TTORNEYJ Dec. 9, 1930. A. w. JOHNSON 1,734,597

DISPLAY DEVICE Filed Dec. 1.. 1927 3 Sheets-Sheet 3 38 39 iNVENTOR.

Patented Dec. 9, 1930 warren stars Liaise? Tar Fries ARVID w. JOHNSON, or os ANGELES, cALiroRniA DISPLAY nnv cn Application filed December 1, 1927. Serial No. 236,965.-

panels ha *ing printed or like display matter thereon. It is especially serviceable for the display of advertising matter and the embodiment of the invention described and illustrated herein is such an advertising display device.

The objects of the present invention are to provide a web formed of panels each having display matter,rolls for the web which alternately act as magazine and take-up rolls; mechanism for causing the web to travel be tween the rolls, stop with a panel in display position and then travel to position the next panel for display and repeat the cycle of operation, and upon the termination of the travel of the web from one roll to the other to automatically reverse the direction of travel. Further objects of this invention are to provide a transmission mechanism for intermittently actuating driven members; and still further objects of this invention are to provide transmission mechanism of the charact r described which alternately oper ates driven members at the ends of their travel.

Other objects and advantages will be made fully apparent from the following specifica- 30 tion in connection with the accompanying drawing, in which:

1 is a rear elevation of the mechanism; 2, 3, l and 5 are views as seen'on the lines correspondingly numbered in Fig. 1; Fig. 6 is a section as seen on the line 66 of Fig. 2; Fig. is a perspective view of the trip mechanism; Fig. 8 is a section as seen on the line 88 of Fig. i; Fig. 9 is a rear elevation of the clutch mechanism; and Fig. 10 is a side elevation of the clutch and trip mechanism.

Referring more particularly to the drawinn, a rectangular frame is indicated by 10. This frame is of such a character as to carry the various elements of the mechanism, so that it may be housed within a case with a window. The case and window not being a part of the present invention are not illustrated. fit the ends of the frame are rolls 11 and 12 mounted upon shafts to whichthey are secured. These shafts indicated by 13.

and 14 are for the purpose of driving the rolls and are journalled inthe frame. The rolls are similar in construction, each having a bevel. gear secured thereto indicated respectively by the referencenumeralslo and 16. To the end. of shaft 13 is'secured a bevel pinion 17. The rolls are arranged .to have secured theretoia flexible web 18 whereby the web may be wound upon one roll and, unwound from the other. Tohold the web in position for suitably displaying the matter thereon idler rollers are mounted in the frame. One of these rollers is indicated by 19 in Figs. 2 and 10. There is a corresponding roller, not shown, adjacent roll 12. The web consists of a number of panels having display matter thereon, these panels being connected together by suitable clips 20, see Figs. 2 and 10, which clips provide trip members, such clips being tthe endsof each panel.

Mounted upon the frame upon a suitable bracket an electric motor 21" which serves as a prime mover for operating the mechabetween the rolls.

There are two transmission mechanisms one for each roll, one being indicated generally by A and the other by B. 7 As these mecha-. n snis aresubstantially the same in construction, only one will bedescribed. Rotatably,

mounted upon the shaft. 25 at the end is a bevel pinion 26 which meshes with the bevel gear 15. A similar bevel pinion for the other transmission is mounted on shaft 25 and meshes with bevel gear 16. i Bevel pinion 26 has a; clutch element 27 geared thereto including clutch teeth, Splined upon the shaft 25 so as to be longitudinally movable, but r0- tatable therewith is an intermediate clutch element '28 having jaws on opposite sides, one set of jaws being for the teeth of clutch 27. The intermediate.clutch element 28 has an annular groove for rollers 30 on a keeper yoke 31. Yoke 81 is forked and it is suitably mounted intermediate its ends upon a pivot shaft 32. A. tension spring 38 is secured to thecasing housing the gears tending to hold so as to be'rotatable and longitudinally movable is a clutch element 34'for operating a cam. A worm sleeve 35 is rotatablymounted upon shaft 25. There are slots in the upper end of sleeve 35 to receive projections 36 on the cam clutch element 34, whereby to keep the sleeve and cam clutch element rotatably secured to one another and permit longitudinal movement of the cam clutch element. Meshing with the worm 35 on the worm sleeve is a worm wheel 37 fixed to a shaft 38. Fixed to the shaft 38 is a cam wheel 39 arranged to lift a follower 40. At the top of the follower is a forked arm 41 engaging the shoulder beneath a flange on the cam clutch element 34. A leaf spring '42 secured to the casing and pressing downwardly on the flange 41 tends to hold the cam clutch element in its lower position.

Extending from the side of one leg of the yoke 31 is a pin 43 arranged to be engagedby a hook on a latch 44. Latch 44 is pivotally mounted upon the frame so as to engage the pin 43. A trigger 45 is disposed in the slot of an actuator 46. The latter has an angularly disposed arm 48 with a roller 49 at the end thereof for riding over the trips 20 on the panels. A supporting member 50 on the frame is disposed on the other side of the web to hold the latter against movement as the roller 49 rides thereover. A leaf spring 51 is mounted at one end upon the housing for the mechanism and pressing against the arm 48 tends to hold the roller'49 against the web. A trip riding under the roller will rock the actuator and thereby rock the trigger 44 to disengage it from pin 43.

' \Vhen the parts are in a position shown in Fig. 2, intermediate clutch element 28 is in engagement with the cam clutch element 34. Rotation of shaft 25 will cause the worm sleeve to be rotated. This causes the cam 39 to be rotated. The cam is initially in a position shown in Fig. 6. As the cam rotates one of its points engagesthe roller on the lower end of follower stem 40, and raises the follower against the action of spring 42. This causes cam clutch 34 to be raised to engage the intermediate clutch element and the latter to be raised until it eventually is engaged with the roll clutch element 27. At the upper end of the movement of intermediate clutch element 28, the points of the cam 39 ride from below the follower 40 and release the latter. Spring 42 then returns the cam clutch element to its lower position out to rotate. wound upon roll 11 until the next set of clips the trigger 44 holding the pin 43. There will have been an initial rotation of the bevel gear 26 and the roll 11, causing the web to be wound upon the roll and moving the clips 20 beyond the roller 49 on the actuator. 1n the position last attained, the worm sleeve ceases 35 to rotate, while the roll continues 'The web 'will continue to be ride beneath the roller on actuating arm 48. As the clips pass under the actuatlng arm,

the latter is moved swinging the trigger 44 so as to release pin 43 and permit the tension spring 33 to swing the keeper yoke 31 clownwardly and the intermediate clutch element out of engagement with the roll clutch element. The roll clutch element then ceases to operate and the web remains stationary with the panel displayed. However, worm sleeve is now clutched to the shaft 25 by reason of the intermediate clutch element 28 engaging clutch element 34, and rotation of the cam wheel 39 begins, again raising the follower 40, the cam clutch element and the interme diate clutch element, until the intermediate clutch element again engages the roll clutch element starting rotation of the later. The cam wheel 39 has now moved to the position such that the follower 40 is moved downwardly by the spring 42, disengaging the The three element clutch effects intermit-' tent operation or travel of the web, until the roll 11 has wound the entire web upon it. l/Vhen this occurs, the roll is disconnected from the shaft and the transmission unit A becomes inoperative, while the transmission unit B is placed in operation to turn roll. 11. This is effected by the following mechanism: J ournalled upon the frame at one side is a threaded shaft 52. At the upper end thereof is a bevel pinion 53 meshing with the bevel pinion 17. Mounted upon the threaded shaft is an internally threaded collar 54 having a forked tappet 55 embracing a shiftable rod 56. Pivotally mounted upon the frame are bell crank levers 57 and 58 similar in construction. A catch arm 59 on bell crank lever 57 is arranged to register with a lug 60 on the yoke 31 in one position of the arm and to be out of registration in another position. The catch levers 57 and 58 are connected to the shiftable rod 56 so that when one of the levers registers with its corresponding lug on a yoke, the otherwill be out of registration. The catch arm 59 is mace of such length that when it is registered with its lug 60, the yoke will be positioned with its intermediate clutch element in neutral position or out of engagement with both clutch ele ments 27 and 33. Adjustably mounted by means of clutch screw upon the shiftable rod are abutments 61 and 62. These abutments are arranged to be engaged by the tappet 55. The abut-ments are properly positioned by ,trial so that when the entire web has been wound upon roll 11, abutment 62' will have been engaged by tappet and the rod shifted downwardly so as to suing catch 57 into engagement with the lug on yoke 31, permitting the yoke to be moved by spring 33 to neutral divided into panels having display matter thereon, rolls between which said web travels, it being wound upon one roll and unwound from the other; a transmission mechanism including three aligned clutch elements normally out of clutching engagement, gearing connecting the first clutch element and a roll, a shaft, a prime mover for said shaft, the intermediate clutch element being connected to rotate with said shaft and being longitudinally movable on said shaft, the

third clutch element being longitudinally movable to engage said intermediate clutch element and actuate the latter to engage said first clutch element, keeper means to longitudinally move said intermediate clutch element, said keeper means tending to move said intermediate clutch element out of engagement with said first clutch element and into engagement with said third clutch element, atrigger to holdsaid'keeper means in means operated by rotation of said third clutch element to move said third clutch element into engagement with said intermediate clutch element and the latter into engagement with said first clutch element.

2. A display machine comprising a web divided into panels having display matter thereon, rolls between which said web travels, it being wound upon one roll and unwound from the other; a shaft, a prime mover for said shaft, a pair of transmission mechanisms one for each roll, each transmission mechanism including three aligned clutch elements normally out of clutching engagement, gearing connecting the first clutch element and a roll, the intermediate clutch element being connected to rotate with said shaft and longitudinally movable on said shaft, the third clutch element being longitudinally movable to engage said intermediate clutch element and actuate the latter to engage said Transmission unit B now operfirst clutch element; keeper means to longi-.

tudinally move said intermediate clutch ele ment, said keeper means tending-to lllOVG said intermediate clutch element out oi engagement withsaid first clutch element and into engagement with said third'clutch ele.-.

ment, a triggerto hold said keeper means in position with said intermediate and first clutch elements in clutch engagingposition,

means to trip said trigger actuated by said web at the end of travel of apanel, cam means operated by rotation of said third clutch element to move said third clutch element into. engagement with said 1ntern'1ed1ate clutch clement andthe latter into engagement with said first clutch element; catches one for each keeper means to retain thelatter in neutral clutch disengaging by said prime mover proportionately to the travel of said web to alternately moveat the cndsof travel of web one catch into retaining position and the other into releasing position whereby to reverse the travel or SaidWbLL 3. A display machine"comprising a web divided into panels havingdisplay matter thereon, rolls between which said web travels, it being wound upon one roll and unwound from the other; a shaft, a prime mover for said shaft, a pair of transmission mechanisms, one for each roll, each transmission mocha nism including three aligned clutch elements normally out of clutching engagement, gearing connecting the first clutchelement and a roll, the intermediate clutch element being connected to rotate with said shaft and longi udinally movable on said shaft, the third clutch element: being longitudinally movable to engage said intermediate clutch element and actuate the latter to engagethe first clutch element, keeper means to longitudinal.- ly move said intermediate clutch element, said keeper means tending to move said intermediate clutch element out of engagement with said first clutch element and into engagement with said third clutch clemenha trigger to hold said keeper means in position with said intermediate and first clutch elements in clutch engaging position, means to trip said trigger actuated by said web at the end'of travel of a panel, cam means'ooerated by rotation of said third clutch element to move said third clutch element into engagement with said intermediate clutch element and the latter into engagement with said i clutchelement; catches, one for each keeper means to retain the latter in. neutral clutch disengaging position, a screw driven by said priniie mover, a collar threaded on said screw so as to be moved longitudi. lly thereon, said position, means operated collar having artappet, a lo 'itudinally shiiitable ed for actuating said catches to position one catch in retaining position andthe tappet at the ends of travel of said web whereby to reverse travel of said web.

4. A display machine comprising a web divided into panels having display matter thereon, trips located at each panel, rolls between which said web travels, it being wound upon one roll and unwound from the other; a transmission including a roll clutch element, gearing connecting said roll clutch element and a roll for effecting rotation of the latter, an intermediate clutch element normally disposed out of engagement with said roll clutch element, a prime mover, gearing connecting said prime mover and said intermediate clutch element to rotate the latter, a cam clutch element normally out of engagement with said intermediate clutch element, keeper means to longitudinally move said intermediate clutch element, said keeper means tending to move said intermediate clutch element out of engagement with said roll clutch element and into engagement with said cam clutch element, a trigger for said keeper means to hold the latter in position with said intermediate and roll clutch elements in clutch engaging position, an actuator operated by said trips to actuate said trigger so as to release said keeper means, a cam mechanism for moving said cam clutch element to clutch said three clutch elements together, and gearing to actuate said cam mechanism upon engagement of the intermediate clutch element and said cam clutch element.

5. A display machine comprising a Web divided into panels having display matter thereon, trips located at each panel, rolls between which said web travels, it being wound upon one roll and unwound from the other; a prime mover; a pair of transmission mechanisms, one for each roll, each transmission mechanism including a roll clutch element, gearing connecting each of said roll clutch elements and a corresponding roll for eiiecting rotation of the latter, an intermediate clutch element normally disposed out of engagement with said roll clutch element, gearing connecting said prime mover and said intermediate clutch element to rotate the latter, a cam clutch element normally out of engagement with said intermediate clutch element, keeper means to longitudinally move said intermediate clutch element, said keeper means tending to move said intermediate clutch element out of engagement with said roll clutch element and into engagement with said cam clutch element, a trigger for said keeper means to hold the latter in position Withsaid intermediate and roll clutch elements in clutch engaging position,an actuator operated by said trips to actuate said trigger so as to release said keeper means, a cam mechanism for moving said cam clutch element to clutch said three clutch elements to? IllSl'l'l upon engagement of the intermediate.

clutch element and said cam clutch element; catches one for each intermediate clutch element to retain its keeper means in neutral clutch disengaging position, means operated by said prime mover proportionately to the travel of said web to alternately move at the ends of travel of said web one catch into retaining position and the other into releasing position whereby to reverse travel of said web.

6. A display machine comprising a web divided into panels having display matter thereon, trips located at each panel, rolls between which said web travels, it being wound upon one roll and unwound from the other; a prime mover, a pair of transmission mechanisms, one for each roll, each mechanism including a roll clutch element, gearing connecting each of said roll clutch elements and its corresponding roll for efi'ecting rotation of the latter, an intermediate clutch element normally disposed out of en gagement with said roll clutch element, gearing connecting said prime mover and said intermediate clutch element to rotate the latter, a camclutch element normally out of engagement with said intermediate clutch element, keeper means to longitudinally move said intermediate clutch element said keeper means tending to move said intermediate clutch element out of engagement with said roll clutch element and into engagement with said cam clutch element, a trigger for said keeper means to hold the latter in position with said intermediate and roll clutch elements in clutch engaging position, an actuator operated by said trips to actuatesaid trigger soas to release said keeper means, a cam mechanism for moving said cam clutch element to clutch said three elements together, gearing to actuate said cam mecha nism upon engagement of the intermediate clutch element and said cam clutch element; catches, one for each intermediate clutch element to retain its keeper means in clutch disengaging position, a screw driven by said prime mover, a collar thereon, said collar having a tappet, a longitudinally shiftable rod for actuating said catches to position one in retaining position and the other in releasing position, abutments on said rod disposed to be engaged alternately by said tap et at the ends of travel of said web where y to reverse travel of said web.

7 A display machine comprising a web divided into panels having display matter thereon, trips located at each panel, rolls between which said web travels, it being Wound uponone roll and unwound from the other, a transmission mechanism including a prime mover, a shaft rotated thereby, a roll clutch element freely rotatable on said shaft, gearing connecting said roll clutch element and a roll for efi'ecting rotation of the latter, an intermediate clutch element normally dis posed out of engagement with said roll clutch elementand-splined to said shaft, a cam clutch element normally out of engagement with said intermediate clutch element and freely movable longitudinally and rotatably on said shaft, keeper means to longitudinally move said intermediate clutch element, said keeper means tending to move said intermediate clutch element out of engagement with said roll clutch element and into engagement with said cam clutch element, a trigger for said keeper means to hold the latter in position with said intermediate and roll clutch elements in clutch engaging position, an actuator operated by said trips to actuate said trigger soas to release said keeper means, a cam mechanism for moving said cam clutch element longitudinally to clutch said elements together, and gearing to actuate said cam mechanism upon engagement of the intermediate clutch element and said cam clutch element.

8. A display machine comprising a web divided into panels having display matter thereon, trips located at each panel, rolls between which said web travels, it being wound upon one roll and unwound from the other; a shaft, a prime mover for said shaft, a pair of transmission mechanisms, one for each roll, each transmission mechanism including a roll clutch element rotatable on said shaft, gearing connecting said roll clutch element and its corresponding roll for effecting rotation of the latter, an intermediate clutchelement normally disposed out of engagement with said roll clutch element and splined to said shaft, a cam clutch element normally out of engagement with said intermediate clutch element and freely movable longitudinally and rotatably on said shaft,

keeper means to longitudinally move said,

intermediate clutch element, said keeper means tending to move said intermediate clutch element out of engagement with said roll clutch element and into engagement with said cam clutch element, a trigger for said keeper means to hold the latter in position with said intermediate and roll clutch elements in clutch engaging position, an actuator operated by said trips to actuate said trigger so as to release said keeper means, a cam mechanism for moving said cam clutch element longitudinally to clutch said three clutch elements together, gearing to actuate said cam mechanism upon engagement of the intermediate clutch element and said cam clutch element; catches, one for each intermediate clutch element to retain its keeper means in neutral clutch disengaging position, means operated by said prime mover proportionately to the travel of said web to alternately move at the ends of travel of said web one catch into retaining position and the other into releasing position whereby to reverse the travel of said web.

9. A display machine comprising a. web

divided into panels having display matter thereon, trips located at each panel, rolls between which said web travels, it being wound upon one roll and unwound from the other; a shaft, a prime mover for said shaft,

a pair of transmission mechanisms, one for each roll, each transmission mechanism including a roll clutch element rotatable on said shaft, gearing connecting said roll clutch element and its corresponding roll for effecting rotation of the latter, anrintel-mediate clutch element normally disposed out of engagement with said roll clutch element and splined to said shaft, a cam clutch element normally out ofengagement with said intermediate clutch element and freely movably longitudinally and rotatably on said shaft, keeper means to longitudinally move said intermediate clutch element, said keeper means tending to move said intermediate -clutch element out of engagement with said roll clutch element and into engagement with said cam clutch element, a trigger for said keeper meansto hold the latterin position with said intermediate and roll clutch elements in clutch engaging position, an actuator operated by said trips to actuate said trigger so as to release said keeper means, a cam mechanism for moving said cam clutch element longitudinally to clutch said three clutch elements together, gearing to actuate said cam mechanism upon engagement of the intermediate clutch element and said cam clutch element; catches, one for each intermediate clutch element to retain its keeper means in neutral clutch disengagingposition, a screw driven by said prime mover, a collar threaded on said screw so as to be moved longitudinally thereon, said collar having a tappet, a longitudinally shiftable rod for actuating said catches to position one in retaining position and the other in rel-easing position, abutments on said rod disposed to be engaged alternately by said tappet' at the ends of travel of said web whereby to reverse the travel of said web.

10. A display machine comprising a web divided into panels having display matter thereon, trips located at each panel, rolls between which said web travels, it being wound upon one roll and unwound from the other; a transmission including a prime ,mover, a shaft operated thereby, a roll clutch element rotatable on said shaft, gearing connecting v said roll clutch element and a roll for effecting rotation of the latter, and intermediate clutch element normally disposed out of engagement with said roll clutch element and splined to said shaft, a cam clutch element normally out of engagement with said intermediate clutch element and freely movable longitudinally and rotatably on said shaft, keeper means tolongitudinally move said intermediate clutch element said keeper means tending to move said intermediate clutch element out of engagement with said roll clutch element and into engagement with said cam clutch ele ment, a trigger for said keeper means to hold the latter in position with said intermediate and roll clutch elements in clutch engaging position, an actuator operated by said trips to actuate said trigger so as to release said keeper means, a cam mechanism including a cam, a follower movable thereby to move said cam clutch element, gearing to actuate said cam mechanism upon engagement of said intermediate clutch and said cam clutch elements including a worm sleeve mounted for rotation on said shaft and having said cam clutch element secured thereto, and a worm wheel meshing with said worm sleeve for rotating said cam.

11. A display machine comprising a web divided into panels having display matter thereon, trips located at each panel, rolls between which said web travels, it being wound upon one roll and unwound from the other; a shaft, a prime mover for said shaft, a pair of transmission mechanisms, one for each roll, each transmission mechanism including a roll clutch element rotatable on said shaft, gearing connecting said roll clutch element and a roll for effecting rotation of the latter, an intermediate clutch element normally disposed out of engagement with said roll clutch element and splined to said shaft, a cam clutch element normally out of engagement with said intermediate clutch element and freely movable longitudinally and ro-- tatably on said shaft, keeper means to longitudinally move said intermediate clutch element said keeper means tending to move said intermediate clutch element out of engagement with said roll clutch element and into engagement with said'cam clutch element, a trigger for said keeper means to hold the latterin position with said intermediate and roll clutch elements in clutch engaging position, an actuator operated by said trips to actuate said trigger so as to release said keeper means, a cam mechanism including a cam, a follower movable thereby to move said cam clutch element, gearing to actuate said cam mechanism upon engagement of the intermediate and said, cam clutch elements including a worm sleeve mounted for rotation on said shaft and having said cam clutch element secured thereto, a worm Wheel meshing with said worm sleeve for rotating said cam; catches, one for each intermediate clutch element to retain its keeper means in neutral clutch disengaging'position, means operated by said prime mover proportionately to the travel of said web to alternately move at the ends of travel of said web one catch into retaining position, and the other into releasing position whereby to reverse travel of said web.

12. A display machine comprising a web divided into'panels having display'matter thereon, trips located at each panel, rolls between which said web travels, it being wound upon one roll and unwound from the other; a shaft, a' prime mover for said shaft, a pair of transmission mechanisms, one for each roll, each transmission mechanism including a roll clutch element rotatable on said shaft, gearing connecting said roll clutch element and a roll for effecting rotation of the latter, an intermediate clutch element normally disposed out of engagement with said roll clutch element and splined to said shaft, a cam clutch element normally out of engagement with said intermediate clutch element and freely movable longitudinally and rotatably on said shaft, keeper means to longitudinally move said intermediate clutch element, said keeper means tending to move said intermediate clutch element out of engagement with said roll clutch element and into engagement with said cam clutch element, a trigger for said keeper means to hold the latter in position with said intermediate and roll clutch elements in clutch engaging position, an actuator operated by said trips to actuate said trigger so as to release said keeper means, a cam mechanism including a cam, a follower movable thereby to move said cam clutch element, gearing to actuate said cam mechanism upon engagement of the intermediate clutch element and said cam clutch elements including a worm sleeve mounted for rotation on said shaft and having said cam clutch element secured thereto, a worm wheel meshing with said worm sleeve for rotating said cam; catches one for each intermediate clutch element to retain its keeper means in clutch disengaging position, a screw driven by said prime mover, a collar threaded on said screw so as to be moved longitudinally thereon, said collar threaded on said screw so as to be moved longitudinally thereon, said collar having a tappet, a longitudinally shiftable rod for actuating said catches to position one in retaining position and the other in releasing position, abutments on said rod disposed to be engaged alternately by said tappet at the ends of the travel of said web whereby to reverse travel of said web.

termediate clutch element out of engagement with said first clutch element and into en.- gagement with said cam clutch element,a trigger for said keeper means to hold the latter in position with said intermediate and first clutch elements in clutch engaging position, an actuator operated by said trips to actuate said trigger so as to release said keeper means, a cam mechanism for moving said cam clutch element to clutch said three elements together, and gearing to actuate said cam mechanism upon engagement of said intermediate clutch element and said cam clutch element.

In witness that I claim the foregoing I have hereunto subscribed my name this 18th day of November, 1927.

ARVI D V. JOHNSON. 

